The 46-year-old Navratilova has asked for a wild card to play at next week's Wimbledon warmup tournament in Eastbourne.

Navratilova said the singles competition will help prepare her for doubles at Wimbledon, where she hopes to equal Billie Jean King's record of 20 titles at the All England Club. Navratilova has won nine singles titles at Wimbledon.

``Actually I feel better this year than I did last year, and better now than I did earlier in the year when I won the Australian Open with Leander (Paes),'' Navratilova said.

``We've learned a lot about fitness and training in the last 10 years, and although I'm not playing as well as I did when I was 26, I think I am playing as well as I was when I was 36.

``In any case, sometimes we pay too much attention to age. The ball doesn't know how old you are.''

Navratilova, who played singles at Eastbourne last year, is one of four players vying for two spots. Russian Maria Sharapova and two British players also have asked for a wild-card entry.

Eastbourne organizers are expected to announce the wild cards Friday.

``I'm not sure I'm going to get in,'' Navratilova said. ``But I really want to play there. It's still just a way of preparing for what I want to do in the women's and mixed doubles.''

Navratilova is expected to team with Paes in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon and with Russian teenager Svetlana Kuznetsova in the women's doubles.

In Birmingham, Navratilova is playing doubles with Australia's Alicia Molik. They reached the second round with a three-set win Wednesday over Nathalie Dechy and Emilie Loit.

I'll bet the house she's given a wildcard unless the Brits have gone totally bonkers. Imagine the hoard of middle aged women protesters they'd get if she is denied entry.

Dawn Marie

Jun 12th, 2003, 08:18 PM

She'll get the WC.. come on this is tennis were talking about here. it's politics and about money.

Martina stop acting naive.. you know damn well you will get a WC. lmao

I though would like to see her get booted out in round one. She should either play singles all the time or don't play at all. I dont think it fair for her to be given a WC into singles just so she can break a record or prepare for doubles. The true competitiors who play singles should be givin a Wc. As Eastbourne is a singles Wimby tuneup not a doubles tuneup for the elderly.;)

I like Martine and I think she is good for the game, but it is not fair in my eyes for her to get a WC and not some worthy singles player who wants to improve their game in singles.